Food poisoning warning over 14 festive dangers this Christmas
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There are an estimated 2.4 million cases of food poisoning in the UK every year. There’s nothing merry about food poisoning, and new data suggests too many of us are at risk of it this festive season. This all puts Christmas cooks and their guests – some of whom may be more vulnerable because they’re elderly or pregnant – at risk of food poisoning, which is incredibly common.
![[Follow these festive food preparation rules to avoid being sick over Christmas (Alamy/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/15/18145109-9d4e4dbd-30d7-4483-8cfd-6229a9ede9ab.jpg)
The FSA says there are an estimated 2.4 million cases of food poisoning in the UK every year, often caused by campylobacter bacteria, but also by salmonella and E. coli bacteria, and norovirus. Narriman Looch, head of food hygiene and foodborne disease at the FSA, says: “At Christmas, food safety can be bottom of the list, because we’re so busy preparing and organising, and it can get quite hectic.
![[(Alamy/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/15/18152747-336a304b-9dcb-4128-a35e-dbc9a21a9cd0.jpg)
“But there are many things you need to look out for to keep food safe.”. Here are some of the food hygiene dangers…. 1. Not checking use-by dates. “People can lose sight of things like use-by dates,” warns Looch, who stresses that if food has a use-by date, it’s important to follow the instructions on the packet. “So, for example, if it needs to be eaten within two days after opening, then that’s important to follow.
![[(Alamy/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/15/18153050-e4231ff6-def2-4be3-9a5f-7014510c32c2.jpg)
“Potentially put things in the freezer if they’ll be past their use-by date when you need them, and always check the food date before cooking.”. 2. Not checking your fridge temperature. The fridge needs to be at five degrees C or below, stresses Looch, who says bugs can potentially grow on some perishable foods, such as deli meat, smoked salmon, and foods produced with unpasteurised milk, if the temperature is higher than five degrees in the fridge.
![[(Alamy/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/15/18145515-fdd1a3c1-4d95-4a05-aef3-33872e527303.jpg)
